A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

This weekend was a hard one for me. I did a lot of reflecting, a lot of soul searching, and a lot of grieving. But, the entire weekend wasn't spent in strife. I got to spend four hours on Saturday with my aunt Carmen, and my cousin Colleen. Colleen had a whole box of old photos that belonged to my recently deceased cousin, Corky. I looked through the pictures with them, listened to stories of people in generations past, and listened even more eagerly to stories about people I hold very near and dear to me, especially my grandmother and my aunt Carmen. Colleen was kind enough to give me a bunch of photos, some of which I copied for myself, and many of which I am passing along to my mom and her siblings.

At Tom's viewing, my aunt Mary Catherine also gave me a packet of photos from my childhood. It was full of picturess of me as a baby and toddler, and also had lots of pictures of my mom and my grandmother. I don't have many pictures of my grandmother, especially ones of her with me. There were several photos which met that description in the bunch from Mary Catherine, and to be honest, those photos alone brought enough light into my weekend to carry me through for a long time to come. I've actually be thinking about them throughout the last few days, an smiling every time one of them comes to my mind.

The photos I posted here are all of my maternal side of the family. Now I just need a few copies of my paternal grandparents' photos and I'll be in my own little heaven on earth.

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Spending quality time with Aunt Velda...wondering which watch really has the right time! (She had Alzheimer's and wore something like 6 watches every day!) This is one of the few photos of me where I can see a resemblance to Andrew. Maybe he is mine, after all!

Me & my "Super Mom!"

"Uh, Jackie, let's get to cutting that cake!"

My grandparents' 25 wedding anniversary party. Here they are with my great, great aunt Mary.

Gram with me, and my grandfather with my cousin, Ian. I used to take long naps with Gram every afternoon on that couch. Seeing its crazy print brings back sweet memories!

"Pap, I think I'm allergic to that hat. Here come's another sneeze!"

Making sandcastles with my favorite person in the whole wide world.

Gram, doing one of her favorite things (and mine too, these days!), eating sweets!

Pap and me, just passing the time.

Ian and I were best buddies as small children, that is, until he tried to strangle me.

Me & Mom at the Penn State Altoona Campus reflecting pond.

So young...both of us, contemplating the world ahead.

My grandparents and my great grandmother, Bernadine.

My cousin Corky, who just passed away, and my aunt Carmen. They were in a commercial for a local furniture store.

Carmen is on the left, and Corky on the right. The photos with Carmen were in the newspaper, and ones with Corky were on local TV. Don't they just look very 50's chic? I love these pictures, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to get them, and talk to Carmen about them. Of all the things I keep, photos are by far the most valuable, in my opinion. But, I guess anyone who knows me and my penchant for photography, already knew that.

Here's to reflecting on the past, cherishing the memories, and to the many more beautiful photos to come!